Currently staying at New World (December 2023) and still hundreds of the villas are empty, with pools full of rancid green water and rubbish. I poked around and found the Interiors are in varying states of disrepair. The operational villa we are in smells moldy and dank. It is incredibly overpriced and I find it hard to imagine this place surviving. Given how new the development is there are so many signs of decay, paint peeling, render falling off, roof thatch missing, boardwalks twisting and rotting. Unless someone pumps a truck load of money in I’d imagine its ability to gain return visitors will hit zero. I will never return to the resort nor the island, sadly it’s been decimated by the serious overdevelopment. Might be a future destination for those who enjoy exploring abandoned buildings!

I also found this article as I’m staying at the Sailing Club, part of the Intercontinental complex.
This island is disgusting, a sad choice for a 10 day trip. Any and all who read this, avoid Phu Quoc like the plague and head over to Thailand or Cambodia.

1 Jam 2023 and we’re just back from walking though the desolate streets filled with rows of odd buildings that are aging quickly with little to no reflection of the country we visited. A block too far and your in a wasteland of tin fences and rubble filled blocks, with overgrown footpaths that come to an end or fence, so back into the beach to wander further. We’ve heard they want to build eight casinos, so it doesn’t matter what us Aussies think, it’s not being build for us to enjoy. Sadly a beautiful paradise turned into a high rise hell sparking little joy or connection. The water park was fun I guess.

I came to this island several times a dozen years ago. At the time when the old airfield was still operational and the new one was not built yet.

The jungle was pervasive, the were a lot of streams running aross the forest to the sea where I found some fish species not reported on the Vietnamese mainland.

Phu Quôc now is devastated by capitals brought in by very well connected capitalists from the North of Vietnam.

Hi Dave, thanks for your on-the-ground perspective. Yes I am struggling to see how they will fill so many 5-star rooms in a region with so many choices.

Spot on . They will rue the day
My first visit was in 2012 and I still smile at the memory

Great articles and blog thanks

have travelled to phu quoc for five of the last six years as my wife is vietnamese and her parents and some other family members have relocated there from hanoi. Have slowly but surely been disappointed with whats been allowed to occur there. The place looks like its on steroids development wise and the amount of kitsch type buildings popping up like mushrooms all over the island is quite a concern. As far as western tourism is concerned i think it will have a limited shelf life because i think western tourism appreciates things that are a bit more “real” and sustainable. My Vietnamese relatives who live in Duong Dong seem to think that all the activity is great and the resorts and buildings are lovely, however i think most if not all of their thinking is driven by the financial side of it. There clearly is no shortage of Asian tourism dollars, but at the breakneck speed at which the island is being developed, i fear it has past the point of being a beautiful, relaxing place to holiday and enjoy. Pesky humans just dont know when to stop sadly.